298 APPENDIX BY THE 



is erroneous. Eyes are not wanting in the mole, but they 

 are small, buried in the fur, and by a peculiar muscular 

 contrivance they can be pushed forward, or drawn within, 

 so as to be protected from particles of earth. The hear- 

 ing of the mole is particularly acute, although it has no 

 external shell to the ear. Its sense of smell is also par- 

 ticularly good. It feeds chiefly upon earth-worms, but 

 also eats mice, rats, frogs, lizards, and its appetite is vora- 

 cious. The subterranean domains of these creatures are 

 extensive and various in their character, their runs, or 

 galleries, being generally about five or six inches below 

 the surface, though often reaching to thrice that depth. 

 They ate nocturnal, like so many of the creatures which 

 people the earth ; and they are as active in winter as in 

 summer. 



The mole is not found in Ireland, or in the northern 

 parts of Scotland. In America, if the true mole be actu- 

 ally wanting, wo have other little creatures of the same 

 family, common throughout the country. These are the 

 shrew-moles. They differ widely, however, from the moles 

 of Europe, although possessing the same burrowing habits. 

 The common shrew-mole of America, Scalops Jlqualicns, 

 is about six inches in length, with a tail one inch long. 



Another of this family is a very singular little creature 

 and peculiar to North America. This is the Star-nose, 

 Condylura Crislala., sometimes called the Button-nose 

 mole by our farmers. It is common as far south as Vir- 

 ginia, is nocturnal in its habits, and partial to the banks 

 of streams. It is rather larger than the common shrew- 

 mole. 



